klingstubbins design competition

PhilaU interior design students received more awards than any other
school at the 10th annual KlingStubbins design competition in Philadelphia,
winning four of the ten awards, including a second place, $2,000 win for
Sarah Schaub ’12.

THE CHALLENGE:

KlingStubbins is an internationally recognized design firm with
expertise in architecture, engineering, interior design, planning and
landscape architecture. Each year, the firm hosts a design competition for
schools in the Philadelphia area to compete in a one-day charette.

“Students were given seven hours to develop a design concept and
parti and to complete two presentation boards that included rendered floor
plans, elevations, perspectives and furniture and finish sections,” said
Lauren Baumbach, associate professor of interior design. None of the
students knew the competition’s parameters until the day of the contest.

Students were asked to design an office work environment for their
generation. The project was called “Go Work,” and it challenged students to
design office space that is more relaxed, flexible and spirited than
traditional work environments.

A WINNING PROJECT:

After receiving notice of the challenge, Schaub decided
to focus on the concept of “Flexible Foundation.”

“My thought was that it’s a place that provides the
basics and building blocks or foundation for business people to come and
build their companies,” explained Sarah. “More specifically, it provides
various types of work spaces that allow people to work the way that best
fits their needs.”

Wanting to create a floor plan that would be memorable
and give her a competitive edge, Sarah decided on showcasing a sweeping
angle that spanned the whole length of the building.

“I thought this feature not only looks lovely in plain
view, but it would be an interesting element to inhabit and walk through.”

The other PhilaU winners were Courtney Heffintrayer
’12, Kaitlynn Ziegler ’12 and Sarah Sapowycz ’13 who each won $500 for
honorable mention awards. Heffintrayer’s award was her second-straight, also
winning honorable mention in the 2010 competition.